Inhaler



(No Model.) Y

F. L. WISEMAN.

Y INHALER. No. 567,558.

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, C .r Y M .//A/f/v//MN NITED STATES PATENT firmen.'

INHALER.

sPncIFICATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,558, dated september s, 189e. Application iiled April 30, 1895. Serial No. 547,658. `(No model.)

in portable inhalers designed to be manufac- Y tured of a size convenient to be carried in the pocket.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and efficient construction of magazine-inhaler which shall be adapted to be used for the treatment of nose, throat, and lung troubles, and which shall be of such form and construction that it may be used at any and all times without interfering1 with a persons work.

A further object of the invention is to construct an inhaler in such manner as to render the same adaptable to medicines of different characters.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved inhaler complete, showing different forms of nozzles. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the barrel of the inhaler, showing a nest of absorbing-tubes located therein. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same. Fig. a is a longitudinal section through the barrel of; the inhaler, showing a perforate sheetmetal cylinder and also perforate end disks located within said barrel. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the perforate cylinder omitted. Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the perforate end disks. Fig. 7is a detail perspective view of the perforate sheetmetal cylinder. Fig. S is a sectional view through one of the nozzles.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the inhaler as a whole may be made from any usual or preferred material, such as hard rubber, celluloid, zinc, copper, brass, aluminium, duc., and may be ornamented with gold or silver mountings, according to the desire of the manufacturer. The inhaler comprises a barrel or oase 1, which is shown in the form of a hollow cyl` inder, open at either end, and internally screw-threaded to provide for the insertion and engagement of the several parts of the inhaler hereinafterI described. Within one end of the barrel is screwed a stein 2, which is externally screw-threaded, as indicated at 3, and shouldered at 4 to form a firm and neat junction with the barrel. At the inner end the stem 2 is concave or hollowed out, as shown at 5, and a longitudinal perforation 6 extends entirely through the stem, said perforation being internally screw-threaded at its outer end to receive a nozzle 7, which may be either in the form of a mouthpiece or nose-piece, both of which are shown in Fig. 1l and made interchangeable. lVhen not in use, a screw plug or cap 8 is substituted for the nozzle, thus effectually sealing in the medical vapor and preventing waste thereof.

The longitudinal perforation Gin the stem is enlarged in diameter for a short distance, thereby providing a valve-chamber 9 and shoulder or valve-seat 10. lVithin said valvechamber 9 is located a self-acting valve, which may be of any usual or preferred construction, but which is shown in the form of a ball 11 of slightly less diameter than the valve-chamber. A perforation or eXhalation-passage 12 leads from the inner end of the valve-chamber i) to the exterior of the stem, and is adapted to be closed by said ball-valve during the act of inhaling. The passage 12 may, however, lead from any point of the longitudinal perforation 6 to the exterior of the stem. The outer end of the passage 12 maybe closed by a cap 12d, when desired. A threaded and perforated plug 13 is screwed into the outer end of thc valve-chamber in the stem, thus preventing the escape of the ball-valve, while at the same time permitting the free passage of the medical vapor through the longitudinal perforation G. A pin or projection 14 within the valve-chamber serves to direct the ball 11 to its seat for closing the passage 12 in the act of inhaling, and when the patient exhales the ball-valve seats itself against the adjacent end of the screw-plug 13, thereby closing the perforation in said screw-plug and preventing the breath from entering the barrel 1, causing it to pass out through the perforation 12. 1t will be apparent that the partitions, in the form of the plug 13, may be of anyA form and construction and secured to or IOO halation.

barrel.

absorbent material, such as cotton, felt, or VI N Ypaper, or they may be` composed of any ma- "ter'ia'i and filled with absorbent material such within and between the inhaler-barrel 1 and stem 2 in any usual or preferred manner, the perforations in said partitions being closed by a self-acting-valve during the act of ex- The form and manner of supporting the valve may be varied in many ways, the essential purpose of said valve being to close the perforation or hole in said partition or plug to prevent the breath from passing 1o back into and through the medicine and medical chamber, thus causing the breath to be forced out through the exhalation-passage or perforation 12, as shown in the drawings.

The barrel 1 is provided at its outer end I 5 with a screw-threaded cap or plug 15, which is preferably provided with a milled flange 16 for facilitating its insertion and removal. The stem may also be provided with a surrounding rubber band 2, Fig. 1, to better zo adapt the device to be held in the mouth.

The construction above described is common to the several forms of inhalers as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5. In Fig. 2 I have shown a nest of absorbing-tubes arranged within the Said tubes may be composed of any as above referred to. These tubes, indicated 3o at 17, extend longitudinally within the barrel 3 5 stem 2 and the outer plug or cap 15, although it will be apparent that said end disks may be dispensed with. The end disks 1S may be secured within the barrel in any preferred manner, but are shown provided with periph 4o eral screw-threads, adapting them to be screwed into place within the internallythreaded ends of the barrel. lVhen the screw cap or plug 15 is removed, it will be apparent that the air maybe drawn through the perfo.

4 5 rated end disks and absorbent tubes and into the mouth or nose. In Fig. 4 I have shown how a perforate sheet-metal cylinder may be substituted within the barrel 1 in place of the absorbent tubes. The cylinder, indicated 5o at 19, is preferably made of finely-perforated thin sheet metal and provided with closed ends, as indicated in Fig. 7, but of course may be made from wire cloth or gauze, and is adapted to receive the medicine when in the form of salts or crystals or in any dry or powdered form. Under this arrangement the perforated end disks 1S may or may not be used, as preferred. In Fig. 5 the perforated sheet-metal cylinder 19 is omitted and the end 6o disks 18 only employed, under w-hieh arrangement the medicine, in dry or granular form, is adapted to be contained within the barrel itself and between said end disks.

In Fig. 8 I have shown how the nozzle is 6 5 formed with an internally-arranged ange 7 f,

extending around the mouth in the neck of the nozzle and serving to prevent the saliva or moisture from passing into the stem and medical chamber. zle or mouthpiece 7 may be covered by a rubber cap 7 b, as shown in Fig. 8, to exclude dirt and dust.

The construction of inhaler above described is very simple and inexpensive, and, as will be apparent from the foregoing description, is adapted to medicines of different kinds, whether in liquid or dry state. The device is adapted to be carried in the pocket, and is of such convenient size and form that it may be used almost continuously without in any way interfering with the work of the person using it. This continuous use is rendered possible by the particular construction of valve described, as the patient can breathe with perfect freedom without the necessity of removing the inhaler from the mouth after each inhalation in order to exhale.

It will be apparent that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

I'Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured Aby Letters Patent, is

1. In an inhaler, a hollow barrel or case for the reception of medicine in liquid or dry state, in combination with a stem detachably secured thereto and provided with a single longitudinal inhalation-passage and with an angularly disposed exhalation passage in communication with the longitudinal passage, a valve arranged in the inhalation-passage and normally closing the same, and means for automatically moving said valve so as to close the exhalation-passage, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an inhaler, a hollow barrel or case internally screw-threaded at each end, a pair of oppositely-disposed perforated disks forming independently-removable partitions and threaded into the opposite ends of said bar rel or case, and a plurality of absorbent tubes nested within said barrel and between the perforated disks and adapted to receive and hold by absorptionthe medicated liquid, in combination with a stem threaded into one end of said barrel and provided with a central longitudinal inhalation-passage, an independent and angularly-disposed exhala* tion-passage, a ball-valve arranged within and normally closing the inhalation-passage, and a pin for guiding and directing said ballvalve before the exhalation-passage so as to close the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK LEONARD IVISEMAN.

lVitnesses:

GEORGE A. WISEMAN, L. F. SAXENBERGER.

Then not in usc, the noz- IOO IIO 

